1. The Human Side Sets Us Apart: Erin emphasized that while all advisors have access to similar tools, it’s the client experience, the team approach, and the genuine relationships that differentiate great firms from the rest.
2. Growth Through Opportunity and Diversity: Her remarkable team expansion wasn’t just about numbers—it was built through organic and strategic growth, focusing on both service breadth and hiring talent from all backgrounds, especially by nurturing young professionals through internships.
3. Combatting Industry Misconceptions: We discussed the persistent negative stereotypes about financial advisors, tracing them to media portrayals like “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Erin believes showing up with empathy, advocacy, and authenticity is key to changing minds.
4. Financial Literacy and Pro Bono Advocacy: Erin’s commitment to pro bono work—particularly supporting cancer patients and educating women—shines a spotlight on the importance of making financial advice available to everyone, not just the wealthy.
5. The Future is Relational, Not Transactional: Looking ahead, Erin and I agreed that the next evolution in financial planning will revolve around holistic financial wellness—where coaching, empathy, and mental preparation for major life transitions are as vital as investment returns.

Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of values-aligned investing and exploring how women can create a more just and equitable society through the power of their money. Joining me is Janine Firpo, a social innovator, author, and one of Forbes’ 50 Over 50 female leaders making a remarkable impact later in life. After a successful 35-year career in technology and international development—including a role at the Gates Foundation—Janine pivoted toward helping women take control of their financial futures and founded Invest for Better, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women investors.

Janine and I shared insights about reinventing ourselves after long careers, challenging the traditional concept of retirement, and finding new passions and purpose in the next chapter of life. Janine candidly discussed the fears and uncertainties she faced when leaving her corporate career, and how she discovered her calling in values-based investing—ultimately leading to her highly collaborative book, Activate Your Money, and the founding of several platforms, including SheEconomy AI, to help women align their investments with their values.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Reinvention Requires Both Courage and Planning: Janine’s story demonstrates that moving into a new chapter of life—whether post-career or post-retirement—can be intimidating, but financial planning and trusting your intuition pave the way for success.
2. Values-Aligned Investing Is More Accessible Than Ever: Anyone, even those just starting out or with only a bank account, can make meaningful investment choices that reflect their personal values and contribute to societal change.
3. Women Are Financial Powerhouses: By 2030, women are projected to control 40% of U.S. wealth, and research shows they consistently outperform men in investing when they employ long-term, buy-and-hold strategies.
4. Community and Collaboration Drive Lasting Change: Janine’s collaborative approach—engaging over 150 women in the development of her book and uniting 100+ organizations in the SheEconomy campaign—highlights the importance of collective action and shared resources.
5. Financial Freedom Fuels Purpose: Redefining retirement means seeing work as optional and living a life of contribution, impact, and continual growth, no matter your age or stage—don’t retire, graduate!

Join us for a journey of inspiration and practical ideas to help you achieve financial freedom, invest with purpose, and create positive change. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with anyone ready to graduate into their next chapter with passion!

1. Retirement Longevity Matters Most: Jeremy introduced the concept of the “retirement longevity number”—the importance of planning not only when you’ll retire but how long you’ll need your money to last, factoring in early retirements and underestimated life expectancies.
2. Spending Is Not One-Dimensional: Expect higher spending in your first decade of retirement. Do detailed cash flow planning that accounts for one-time costs like travel or home renovations and prepare for possible healthcare spikes in your later years.
3. One-Shot Decisions Require Strategy: Social Security, pension choices, and annuities are often irrevocable. Plan ahead using net present value calculations and seek advice that considers math—not just gut feeling or sales incentives.
4. Tax Planning Is a Game Changer: Post-retirement offers tremendous flexibility for tax strategies. Learn how different account types are taxed, and consider timing and sizing Roth conversions to optimize your lifetime tax outlay.
5. Invest After You Plan—Not Before: Good financial planning puts investments near the end, not the beginning. Build your foundation first by aligning investments with your spending, income, and risk tolerance. Join us for this enlightening episode and discover why retirement isn’t just a final destination—it’s the start of your next, most purposeful chapter. Subscribe, rate, and share our show so others can join you in reimagining—and graduating into—a life of financial freedom and fulfillment!

Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! Today’s episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of a financial advisor, featuring a special guest from our own team: Joey Mills, who recently became a Certified Financial Planner™ and is on the path to becoming an associate advisor at BFG Financial Advisors.

I’m excited to introduce Joey, who joined us in 2022 after graduating from Towson University with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Financial Planning. Beyond his financial expertise, he’s also a baseball enthusiast who recently checked off a major personal goal: visiting every major league baseball stadium in the country—even though we still haven’t converted him from being a Yankees fan!

5 Key Takeaways:

1. The Value of Specialized Education: Joey Mills shared how Towson University’s financial planning concentration gave him both a solid foundation and the flexibility to shift from corporate finance to a more people-focused career.
2. Lifelong Learning Is Essential: Success as a financial advisor requires constant learning—both through formal education and by keeping up with ever-changing financial rules and best practices.
3. Mentorship and Community Matter: Having peers and mentors who’ve followed a similar career trajectory provides invaluable support, insight, and motivation for professional growth.
4. Behavioral Finance Is the Game-Changer: Understanding not just the numbers, but also the psychology behind money decisions—both in clients and oneself—is critical to effective advising.
5. Start Early, Communicate Often: Open family conversations about money and starting good financial habits early—like saving and living below your means—are powerful tools for long-term success.

Join us for this candid conversation as we demystify the career path of a financial advisor and share lessons that can help anyone on their own journey to financial freedom. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with anyone who’s passionate about meaningful work, lifelong learning, and living with purpose!

1. Creatives Need Tailored Tax Help:Hannah Cole identified a huge gap for artists and freelancers, who are often stereotyped as being "bad at money," and built resources to help them thrive, including her book and visual guides.
2. Tax Planning, Not Just Tax Paying:Tax planning is about making the system work for you—not just paying what you owe. It’s about grabbing “the coins in the couch cushions” and using the tax code’s incentives to your advantage, which is very different from the pain of cutting a check.
3. Choosing the Right Tax Pro Matters:Not all CPAs are created equal. Hannah recommends prioritizing respect in your tax adviser relationships and being wary of anyone who’s aggressive to the point of danger. A good adviser makes you part of the decision-making process.
4. Myths About the IRS and Enforcement:The societal fear of the IRS is often fueled by those who benefit from weakened tax enforcement. Hannah contends that, in practice, IRS agents are often kinder and easier to deal with than their reputations suggest—and that real “tax terror” often serves the interests of high-net-worth rule breakers.
5. Calls for a Fairer, Simpler System:We debate estate taxes, sales tax, VAT, and even the promise of a flat tax. Regardless of where you stand politically, we agree: a fair, equitable tax code—one that doesn’t require an army of CPAs and endless stress—would benefit everyone.

1. Long-Term Wealth Through Real Estate: Meredith emphasizes that real estate is not a “get rich quick” endeavor but rather a slow, steady path to building family and generational wealth, requiring patience, liquidity, and a focus on long-term holds.
2. The Value of Owner-Occupied Properties: We discuss how owner-occupants place higher value on their spaces, often investing more into the property—making these transactions particularly beneficial for both the buyer and the asset itself.
3. Courage in Career Transitions: Meredith’s leap from secure government work to the uncertainty of private development and brokerage highlights the importance of preparation (financial and emotional), calculated risk-taking, and capitalizing on opportunity.
4. The Power of Mentorship and Networks: Throughout her journey, mentors and professional networks provided Meredith with opportunities, support, and knowledge—demonstrating the necessity of seeking out guidance even (and especially) as you advance in your career.
5. Purpose-Driven Development: Meredith’s vision for “when I grow up” is centered around creating and redeveloping properties that serve community needs—like transforming a dilapidated dentist office into a thriving therapist center—underscoring how wealth-building and positive impact can go hand in hand.

1. Growth Beyond the Textbook: Kobe Bolanos emphasizes that real financial advising isn’t just about technical knowledge; it’s about understanding clients’ emotions and unique situations—skills you only build through experience.
2. Importance of Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence is crucial, especially when guiding clients through transitions, losses, or fears. Effective advisors translate technical concepts into language clients can relate to, tailoring advice on a client-by-client basis.
3. Early Advocacy for Estate Planning: Kobe Bolanos is committed to bringing estate planning awareness to younger generations, having witnessed firsthand the financial and emotional impact of being prepared—or not.
4. Building Young Professional Networks: By connecting with the Young Lawyers Group and leading professional organizations, Kobe Bolanos is fostering relationships that will shape the future of the industry, proving the value of starting early in building a professional community.
5. Learning from Mistakes: Neither career nor personal growth happens without a few stumbles. Kobe Bolanos’s ability to laugh at himself, learn, and roll with mistakes demonstrates resilience—an invaluable trait for any professional.

1. Life Insurance Is an Asset: Life insurance isn’t just “death insurance”—it’s a buy-and-manage asset that can be valued, sold, and leveraged for retirement, business liquidity, or charitable giving.
2. The Life Settlement Market: Many policyholders don’t realize they can sell their policies in a regulated secondary market, often for more than the surrender value. This liquidity can solve long-term care needs, support philanthropy, or keep a business afloat.
3. Insurability Matters: Buying life insurance for children or grandchildren can preserve their insurability for life, opening doors for future financial planning—even if health challenges arise later.
4. Charitable Solutions and Giving While Living: Life settlements can fund significant charitable gifts, allowing donors to witness the impact of their generosity now rather than waiting for a bequest after passing.
5. Don’t Throw Away Your Policy—Value It First: Before surrendering or lapsing a policy, policyholders should explore its market value. Life insurance can be worth tens, hundreds of thousands, or even millions—and could change the trajectory of a family, business, or community.

1. Embracing Career Change: Hannah’s journey from teaching to finance demonstrates that transferable skills, like collaboration and data-driven thinking, are invaluable—even across vastly different industries.
2. Data-Driven Marketing: By applying her experience as a teacher, Hannah transformed our marketing approach—utilizing data to determine which initiatives, webinars, and podcast episodes best engage our audience.
3. The Power of Collaboration: Moving from a solo teaching role to a team environment at BFG allowed Hannah to learn from colleagues, share new ideas, and innovate more effectively than ever before.
4. Adapting to Growth and Change: Hannah’s advice to “slow down, trust the process, and implement change gradually” is a lesson for anyone stepping into a new role or industry.
5. Looking Ahead—Interactivity and Fresh Content: With “Diary of a Financial Advisor” moving to a webinar format on BFG University, our content will become more timely, interactive, and driven by what you—our listeners—want to see.